Give 'em room!

We are all guilty of trying to make sure our kids are 'school' ready.  I have had parents call and ask what should they be doing to get their child 'ready' for school.  They typically don't like my answer.   I think the ones who call want to hear, buy a workbook, make flashcards, start quizzing them on letters and math facts.  Instead I tell them the things I have been writing about.   Give them opportunities, develop that oral language, build that background knowledge and read!

Years ago a friend called me upset because her daughter was starting Kindergarten and couldn't read.  The child's oral language was unbelievable...but she couldn't read.   A mutual friend had  a daughter starting school too.  Her daughter could read.  My first friend was so worried that her daughter would be behind.  I told them both not to worry. Skip ahead a few months and the nonreader was reading beautifully.  In fact, she was reading well above grade level by first grade and has continued to be an incredible reader.

What does all that have to do with the picture posted?  Many times, we throw what's appropriate out in favor of trying to make sure our children are 'ready' for school.  We let stores tell us what our children need.  We buy coloring books or color sheets. What small children need is large paper or poster board to color.  Invest in some butcher paper.  Buy some sidewalk chalk and let them draw/write.  They need the large sweeping strokes and making big circles to help later on with the slant right, slant left, forward circle, they will use in forming letters.  They need a variety of paper with heavy emphasis on large.

Small kids need that gross motor (big movement) development.  It is hard to work on developing fine motor skills (muscles in the fingers for writing, cutting, etc.) without the gross motor.  They go hand in hand.  Did you know there are some schools that begin writing on butcher paper, move to large construction paper and then finally introduce blank paper?  They don't even address lined paper. That's a school that honors children.  Pretty cool.

So, pull out the poster board and give 'em some room to draw or write!